I’ve been thinking a lot about parenthood recently. Those who know me personally will know that I have my first child on the way. In the summer, I’ll be the father to a little boy - and I couldn’t be more excited and more nervous.

But today’s world isn’t easy for boys. They’re being raised to think that any masculinity they possess is somehow toxic. Or that they should or should not be acting a certain way.

On top of that, western nations are seeing men as the victims of deaths of despair - that is, death by suicide, drug overdose, or alcohol-related illness.

Women are outpacing men both in terms of university degrees and salaries in some working areas, making men’s traditional roles more obsolete.

This has all been on my mind. Men need strong mentorship, family structures, and inspiring leaders to help them grow and succeed - but where from?

This week I spoke to JP Dumas. Originally from a working-class upbringing in LA, he dodged the twin evils of gang violence and the crack epidemic, to become an executive in corporate America.

I wanted to hear from him about his journey and the lessons of resilience and leadership. I hope you enjoy it.

Notes:

* You might see my camera angle change for a few minutes - that was just a little technical glitch!

* At the start of the video, I make reference to JP currently working with children as a mentor. This is incorrect and something he did in the past.

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